Find the right health insurance coverage for you

Choosing health insurance involves knowing what plans are available to you, whether you’d rather pay higher premiums or out-of-pocket costs, and what you want from a health insurance plan.

Health insurance plans before age 65

Short term health insurance

Most states allow short-term health plans, which offer limited coverage for low premiums. These plans can last a year in most states, with the option to extend coverage to three years. Short-term plans don’t provide as many benefits as standard health insurance and have hefty out-of-pocket costs.

Medicaid

Medicaid is a federal/state health insurance program for lower-income Americans. These plans offer comprehensive benefits at low costs that are based on your household income.

Coverage through work

The most common way that people pre-retirement age gets health insurance is through an employer. Employer-sponsored health insurance usually offers comprehensive coverage at more affordable prices than individual health plans.

Individual health insurance

Individual health insurance either through the health insurance marketplace or directly from a health insurer is a way to get health insurance if you can’t get one from an employer. Individual health insurance offers comprehensive benefits, but it’s often more expensive than an employer-sponsored group health plan unless you qualify for tax credits.

Student health insurance

Students often get health insurance through a parent’s health plan, but students may also get a plan through their employer, college, or an individual health plan. Another option for people under 30 is catastrophic health insurance, which offers coverage for low premiums, but with a high deductible.

Self-employed health insurance

People who are self-employed can get coverage through an individual or small group plan. These plans can be more expensive than other plans, but you may qualify for premium tax credits to help reduce the health insurance cost on the health insurance marketplace.

Questions to ask before you choose a health plan

Before selecting a plan, make sure to figure out exactly what you want from a plan and what’s available to you.

How much does COBRA insurance cost?

What does a short-term health plan cover?

When you can enroll in health insurance

When to reject the health insurace plan

How to get health insurace if you’re unemployed

How to buy individual health insurance

Benefits of having two health insurance plans

How Medicare works with other insurance

Common types of health insurance plans

Health maintenance organization (HMO)

These plans have limited networks and you must receive care within that network. Otherwise, the health insurance company won’t pay for the care. HMOs have lower premiums than PPOs, but that comes with more restrictions, including limited provider networks and needing primary care physician referrals to see other health care providers, such as specialists.

Learn more about HMO plans

Preferred provider organization (PPO)

PPO plans are typically more expensive than other types of health plans, but that higher premium comes with more flexibility. You often don’t have to choose a primary care provider in a PPO plan, you can select health care providers from a larger network typically, and opt for either in-network or out-of-network care (with the latter charging more). Also, you can visit a specialist without a referral from a primary care provider.

Learn more about PPO plans

Exclusive provider organization (EPO)

This is a managed care plan that allows you to go to doctors and hospitals within the plan’s network. An EPO has a limited network of doctors and hospitals and only pays for coverage from in-network doctors unless it’s an emergency. However, you don’t need to choose a primary care physician or need a referral to see a specialist.

Learn more about EPO plans

Point of Service (POS)

These plans serve as a hybrid of PPOs and HMOs. “Point of service” means that you get to pick whether to use HMO or PPO services every time you see a provider. POS plans often have rules similar to HMOs. For example, you need to choose an in-network physician as your primary care physician. However, you can visit an out-of-network physician for a higher fee in a POS plan, which is similar to a PPO.

Learn more about PPO plans

Best Health Insurance Companies

Insure.com’s editors collected data from several independent sources like J.D.Power, NCQA and NAIC to create a list of Best Health Insurance Companies. According to this data, Kaiser Permanente, Humana and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan are the top three health insurance companies for 2022.

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Health Insurance Advisor

Answer a handful of questions about your insurance situation and let the Health Insurance Advisor provide a comprehensive look at what kind of coverage you need.

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Frequently Asked Questions About Health Insurance

The concept behind health insurance is simple: You pay money to an insurance company for a policy that aims to protect you against health care costs. The goal is to pay much less overall in a given year for health care insurance than you would out-of-pocket if you didn’t have insurance. Health insurance plans differ and may provide a distinctive combination of services as well as access to particular providers. However, most plans help pay doctor visits, prescription medications, preventive care, and hospital stays. Members pay a monthly or regular premium and the insurer pays for a portion of your medical care costs, according to the plan’s terms.

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The answer to this question depends on several factors, including your health needs, budget, provider preferences, and what’s available.

How do you decide what coverage you need?

The best way to compare health insurance plans is to look closely at the quality of coverage and total costs. This involves examining several different aspects of the plan, including: •Premium •Deductible •Out-of-pocket expenses •Provider network •Services/medications covered